Learn how to make a screenshot or screen capture with your apple computer.
This tutorial is rated at the beginner level. Many people ask, "How do I make a screenshot with a Mac?" or "Where is the 'Print screen' button on a Mac?" I know right where they are going with that. The age old question of "How do I make a Screen Capture?" It really is not that difficult and Apple did not hide the function, they just made it easier, better and more logical, as usual.
Just before we get started... As in every tutorial on this site I have to warn you my computer is not set up "standard"; I have my Dock on the left side of the screen, I do not have the nebula as my DesktopBackground, I also have several programs in my System Preferences that are not standard. This should not cause you any problems, you should know where your dock is and if you would like to change your Desktop Background read this: Learn how to Set or Change your Desktop Background on apple computers. If you have any questions, send me a mail through the Request Form. Now that we have that out of the way.
Preparing
I have mentioned before that it is amazing how many people have never open their System Preferences
(Normally you can find your System Preferences in your dock. If not they will be in your applications folder). If you have not gone through them, i would suggest that you do that now. there are many important things in there. For example, you can change the configuration of your mouse, Change your Mouse configuration
You will find most of the keyboard shortcuts in your System Preferences under Keyboard & Mouse. Once you are there, the Shortcuts are, naturally, in the tab "Keyboard Shortcuts".
After you have opened the correct tab you will see the list of shortcuts. In Mac OS X, 10.5 and above, it is the fourth option down in the list and it has a little triangle that you can click on to see more. Click the little triangle, it will drop down more options for you. There, in Mac OS X 10.5 and above, are 4 more options there for you to choose from; I will explain each of them below. I will also add the shortcut for each method. For a quick list just scroll to the bottom of this page.
*Note: There are other ways to make Screen Shots. There are other programs that will create Screen Shots for you. I would suggest that you check all of these out if you can. It is always good to know what your Apple computer can do.
Screen Shots
Save picture of screen as a file = Shift CMD 3
To make a screenshot of your full screen, you simply push Shift CMD 3. This will copy the entire screen. You may be used to this effect from Windows when you hit the "Print Screen" button. Your apple computer will then save the file as a .png to you Desktop. They will begin with "Picture 1.png" and the number will increase with the number of screen shots that you take. When you erase them all the numbers will reset. Now you have your screen capture. If you have two monitors Your Apple computer, with Mac OS X and above, will make a capture or screen shot of both screens and save them as Picture 1.png and Picture 2.png.
Copy picture of screen to the clipboard = Shift CRTL CMD 3
When you make a screen shot using this method it will again make a screen shot of your entire screen. The difference is that it will not drop it on your desktop; your Apple computer, with Mac OS X and above, will save the image data in your Clipboard. You can then use it in other programs. For example, If you intend to edit the screen shot in Photoshop, then use this method. Go to Photoshop and make a new file. I do this by pushing CMD N. This will give you the "New" window. there you will see that Photoshop has already gotten the correct size of the image from your clipboard. Click "OK". A blank window will open. Now just paste. Paste the screen shot how ever you like, with the mouse, the menu bar or with the keyboard, CMD V.
Save picture of the selected area as a file = Shift CMD 4
Now here is something new. You can actually select the area that you wish to make a Screen Shot of. Press Shift CMD 4. Your cursor, normally displayed as an arrow, will change to a "cross hairs" and even give you the pixel coordinates of where you are at on the screen. Now, you simply select what you would like to ScreenShot by clicking and holding the mouse button. Then drag out the area covering the what ever it is you would like to ScreenShot. You will notice that when you click down on the mouse, the coordinates will change to 0 over 0. this is helpful if you want to make a screen shot with an exact size, like 200x200. When you release the mouse button, your Apple computer, with Mac OS X or above, will create a .png and save it to your desktop.
Copy picture of the selected area to the clipboard = Shift CTRL CMD 4
This option is the same as copying the entire screen to your clipboard. You can use it in the same way. The difference is that you have only made a Screen Shot of the selected area.
That is all that is listed in the System Preferences, Keyboard & Mouse, Keyboard Shortcuts.
I do know of one more way to create a screen shot with your Apple computer:
Save picture of active or selected window = Shift CMD 4 then push Space
For example, if you would like to make an image file of your current browser window or a Screen Shot of an error message from some Microsoft Product that you have installed on your Apple computer. The short cut for making a Screen shot of your active window is Shift CMD 4 then push Space. Your cursor will then change to a camera like Icon. what ever window you are currently over will be highlighted in green. Now, simply click, with your mouse, the highlighted window will be created as an image file and copied to your desktop as a .png. Also, of course, if you just follow the pattern and also hold CTRL with Shift CMD 4 then hit Space and make the Screen Capture then it will copy the image of the window to your clipboard.
That is all there is to creating a screen shot with your apple computer.
Execution
Shift CMD 3 = Save entire screen as an image file (Screen Shot)
CRTL Shift CMD 3 = Copy image (Screen Shot) of entire screen to Clipboard
Shift CMD 4 = Save selected area of screen as an image file (Screen Shot)
CTRL Shift CMD 4 = Copy image (Screen Shot) of selected area of screen to Clipboard
Shift CMD 4 then Space = Save selected or active window as an image (Screen Shot) file
CTRL Shift CMD 4 then Space* = Copy image (Screen Shot) of selected or active window
Wrap up
I figure that some people are going to ask "Well what if I dont want a .png?" you can basically make screenshots save in any format that is compatible with Quick Time. Compatible image formats are, for example, .jpg, .bmp, .tiff, etc. etc. So How do you change the format. the answer to that question will be in my next tutorial: Change the default image format of a Screen shot on an Apple computer.